West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-12-01

DO found. No one had seen him since
no left the buggy at the roadside.
There was no excitement until next day,
and then, when n search failed 10 turn
up tho missing man or furnish clue as
TO his fate, Miller, who was in bed, was
placed undor arrest, charged with
his murder. When got down
there from Boston the case
against him hal been worked
up until no one doubted his guilt, and
there were threats OF lynchiug. My first
move slmcwhat staggered them, how
ever. / proceeded TO show that Miller
had arrived at tho horse owners alone,
and that he had not passed that point.
l then found two negro wood choppers
and white man who had seen the two
men together in the buggy only half a
mile from where Sweet got out. II
murder there was, il had taken place in
that half-mile ride, and the body must
be concealed near tho roadside. A search
had been made OF the whole distance,
but now proceeded to u closer invcsti-
cation, Miller was slim, light-built
man, weighing 1913 pounds, Sweet was a
large, flcshy man, weighing 165 pounds.
II was therefore, impossible that Miller
could drag the body any distance.
We went over the ground foot 10y
foot, taking in a breadth Of mile each
side Of the highway and examining
every barn, strawStack, thickct fence
corner and depression. Not tho slight
est trace OF the body could be found.
This raised doubt Of Miller's guilt, but
more than that was needed TO clear him.
il was strange, everybody said, why
Sweet had not gone TO the house to see
the ownero Of the mules; why he had not
been seen on the road or in the fields;
Why if alive, he had not shown up
since. 1t was evident that there had
bee foul play. Miller was the last per-
son in his company. His disordcred
clothing tho blood spots, his pallor aud
mental anxiety. Why when / went
all over it in my own mind
it almost seemed to me
as il he was guilty. | say almost
for | could not quito believe it of him.
While tho prosecution could not produce
the body as n proof OF the murder, they
had plenty of circumstantlal evidence,
and Miller was held TO the higher court,
with everybody believing in his guilt.
The affair had as curious a turn just be
fore his trial rs n novelist could imagine.
was in small town fifty miles from
Clarksvillc, and had stepped into
grocery kept by an old woman, TO get
plug Of tobacco, when her son, a noun
tainccr, came in from his place, thir-
teen miles away. The two exchanged
salutations in my presence, and the
mother asked:
Has the stranger gone yctp
''No," replied the son.
"And do you think he is daft1'
Pears that way"
"IIow is his hurt2'
Better, guess"
Then their conversation turned into
other channels, and went out. In ten
minutes l went back again. An in
fiucnce which | cannot explain any moro
than could resist sent me back to ask:
"You were talking about a stranger.
Have you somo unknown man at your
housc2'
Eyes, sir. lie came six or eight
weeks ago. think he has been hurt
and has lost his mind. have told him
he must 20, but he cries and bcgs to
stay, ard he has paid us very well for
his keep"
IIo described Sweet to a dot and
three hours later / had identified tho
man who was supposed TO have been
murdered by Miller. In three days /
had him at Clarksville. That knocked
the murder theory in the head Of
course, but the prosecution then de-
clarod Miller had assaulted him with in
tent to kill and rob. A medical cxami-
natioa showed that Sweet had been
struck on the head and his brain in
jurcd. took him TO Nashville, put
him in the care Of a surgeon, and in four
weeks he had his mind back. The vo Y
first words he uttered on coming TO
were:
"And you can stop for me as you
come back"
-Four months time had gone out of his
mind, and he began just where he had
le II of as he got out Of the buggy. In
climbing the roadside fence nc fell and
struck his head against tho log lie re-
memberod falling, but nothing further.
A pressure Of tho skull upon his brain
had produced an hallucination. He i'm.
aginod that nc was hunted by robbers,
and had made his way through forest
and swamp 90 tho cabin where / found
him. His weight had run down to 1875
pounds, hair aud whiskcrs had grown
long, and only some lucky accident
could have identified him. or the
81, 600 nc had with him when nc drove
out Of Clarksvile every dollar was re-
counted for and he was eventually re-
stored to health and strength.
This has bcel my personal experience
with circumstantial evidence, and vet /
dare declare my belief that IL Is the
best evidence in the world 10 convict
tho guilty on. 1t may have worked
injustice in rare instances, but 10 has
hung dozens Of guilty wretches who
would otherwise have escaped -Ne5
YOTk Sun.
The Origin or Quaker Custom.
George Fox used at one time 10 at
tend uullio vyorrhfr Ira fhr o.F,1fs.l..g